Argentine, an auto-biography

Paperback | February 7, 2012

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1839 Excerpt: ... assiduous endeavours to ingratiate himself with every member of the family. And yet my closest observation could not attribute to any direct encouragement by Miss Herbert, the intimacy with which Lord Merioneth seemed to be received. He was a man whose appearance and manners might have been considered prepossessing, but for a certain coldness and austerity, almost amounting at times to disdainfulness of demeanour towards those he deemed his inferiors; and which he fell into, probably, in an endeavour to be dignified. Nor was he unable to bear an agreeable part in general conversation, when he chose. But there was nothing in his society that seemed much calculated to foster acquaintanceship into friendship, or that permitted you ever to forget the noble in the man. He and I seldom spoke together; but none,--unless it might be Mary herself,--could ever, I think, infer from my manner, that we were rivals for her love. His attentions to her, indeed, were marked and incessant; but for my own part I endeavoured to cultivate her acquaintance, rather than to appear as her lover. General society afforded me this opportunity abundantly; and the more I enjoyed it, the more entirely did I feel the beauty and excellence of her whole character, "With an invisible and subtle stealth," confirm every impression already made on me by her personal charms. Slowly and imperceptibly did a new hope spring up within me, "like a violet on the other's grave," as I found, or imagined I found, an increasing welcome in Mary's manner towards me. I trembled lest I were flattering myself to my ruin. Oh, how surpassingly beautiful did she look at times!--yet how strangely different from what I knew her once! The unrestrained vivacity of her manner in childhood, had given place to a calmer ...